Spring type leg exercise device

ABSTRACT

A leg exercise device comprising an elongated base having a pair of guide tracks thereon. A foot support is longitudinally movable along said base in said tracks. A coiled tension spring has one end adjustably secured in said base and the other end secured to said foot support. The spring is adjustably secured to the base in a plurality of aligned holes to vary the tension in the spring. The user will sit on said base and place his foot in the foot support with his knee in a bent position. The device is used by straightening the leg, thereby moving the foot support against the tension supply by said spring. The user sits on a hinged support connected to the base while exercising.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,749,400 [451 July 31, 1973 Stoffel SPRING TYPE LEG EXERCISE DEVICE [76] lnventor: Charles R. Stoifel, 6416 Bingham St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19111 [22] Filed: July 23, 1971 {21} Appl. No.: 165,618

[52] US. Cl 272/83 R, 273/D1G. 8, 273/D1G. 5,

, I 272/58 [51] Int. Cl A63b 23/04 [58] Field of Search 272/83, 82, 80, 57 R,

272/DIG. 4, 58

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,720,396 10/1955 Pfaus 272/83 R 3,056,603 10/1962 Levine et a1. 272/58 2,261,172 11/1941 Maxwell 272/83 R 2,696,383 12/1954 Noftsinger..... 3,421,760 1/1969 Freeman 272/83 R Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne Att0mey-Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein & Cohen [5 7] ABSTRACT A leg exercise device comprising an elongated base having a pair of guide tracks thereon. A foot support is longitudinally movable along said base in said tracks. A coiled tension spring has one end adjustably secured in said base and the other end secured to said foot support. The spring is adjustably secured to the base in a plurality of aligned holes to vary the tension in the spring. The user will sit on said base and place his foot in the foot support with his knee in a bent position. The device is used by straightening the leg, thereby moving the foot support against the tension supply by said spring. The user sits on a hinged support connected to the base while exercising. 1

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SPRING TYPE LEG EXERCISE DEVICE This invention relates to a leg exercise device, and more particularly, to a device for furnishing therapy to injured legs.

Various devices have been developed for use in exercising the different parts of the body. Many of these devices include tension springs, and the exercises carried out on them rely on the applying of a force against the counteracting force of the spring. Among the more commonly used devices are those wherein the user will sit on a seat that is slidably movable in a track, and will use his legs or arms in pulling or pushing himself along the track against a counteracting force of a spring. Devices of this type are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 1,866,868 and 2,512,911.

Another type of exercise device that has been developed, and which is usable for exercising both the arms and the legs is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,734,238. The leg exercise device of this invention overcomes all of the problems of the prior art exercise devices. The device can be used in either a wheel chair or in a bed. Only the leg that is being exercised need be moved, and there will be no strain on any of the other limbs of the body or muscles other than those in the leg. Therefore, it can be used in therapy for the leg without affecting any other part of the body.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a novel leg exercise device.

' It is another object of this invention to provide a novel leg exercise device that is particularly adapted for use in a bed or on a wheel chair.

'These and other objects of this invention are accomplished by providing a leg exercise device comprising an elongated base, guide means on said base, a foot support longitudinally movable on said base in said guidemeans, and spring means having one end secured to said base and the other end secured to said foot support means.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the leg exercise device of this invention, as being used by a bedridden patient; FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial top plan view of the device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, a leg exercise device embodying the present invention is generally shown at 10in FIG. 1. Device It) basically comprises an elongated base 12, a foot support 14 and a coiled tension spring 16.

Base 12. includes a horizontal platform 18 having upstandingside walls 20 and anv upstandingv end wall 22. As seen in FIGS. 2,3 and 5,. side walls 20 are shorter in length than platform 18, and terminate at an intermediate point relative to the end of platform 20 opposite end wall 22.. This leaves an exposed end 24 on platform 18. A rib 26 extends for the full length of each side wall 20, and is secured on the interior surface of the side wall adjacent the top thereof.

An extension plate 28 is secured at end 24 of platform 18 by hinge 30. Extension plate 28 is co-planar with platform 18, and has the same width as the platform.

Foot support 14 comprises a base member 32 and a vertical plate 34 extending perpendicularly from one end of the base member.-Four wheels 36 are mounted on the bottom of base member 32 by suitable brackets 38.

Base member 32 and vertical plate 34 are provided with a foam padding 40. A durable plastic film 42 covers the foam padding. Any of the foam materials known to the art can be used for the padding, such as rubber foam, latex foam or polyurethane foam. The plastic film 42 can also be any of the known plastic films, such as polyvinyl chloride.

Spring 16 has one end secured in an L-shaped pin 44. The other end of the spring is secured in an eyelet 46 that is mounted on base member 32 of foot support 16. Pin 44 is received in any one of aligned, spaced holes 48 which are formed in section 24 of platform 18.

Device 10 is shown in use in FIG. 1. As seen therein, the user 50 is shown sitting on a bed 52. The device 10 is placed on the bed and is aligned with one of the legs of the user. The user will place his buttocks on exposed end 24 of platform 18, bend his knee and place his foot 54 on foot supporting device 14, with the heel resting on base member 32 and the sole of the foot placed against vertical plate 34. The padding 40 cushions the foot when in this position. v

The device is then used by alternately straightening the leg and bending the leg to the position shown in FIG. 1. Each time the leg is straightened, foot support 14 will roll longitudinally along platform 18. The ribs 26'provide a guide for the longitudinal movement of the footsupport 14, as seen in FIG. 4. The spring 16 serves as a retarding force in the movement of the foot support, and in this way serves to strengthen the leg as the leg isexpanded. When the leg is again contracted, the spring 16 returns the foot support 14 tothe position shown in FIG. 1.

The reciprocating movement of the foot support is indicated by arrow 56in FIG. I.

The weight of the body on rear platform section 24 prevents any movement of device 10 during its use. The device is adjustable by varying the hole in which the pin '44 in inserted. Thus, for initial use, the pin 44 will be inserted in the forwardmost hole 48. This will result in using a minimum amount of force when the leg is expanded. As the leg is strengthened, the pin 44 will be moved closer to the buttocks, thereby increasing the amount of force necessary to straighten the leg when using the device.

The extension plate 28 serves a number of functions. One of these functions is to lengthen platform 18 in order to position foot support 14 a greater distance away from the patient, thereby minimizing the amount of force necessary to expand the leg against the urging of spring 16. When extension plate 28 is not in use, it can be folded vertically downward to the position shown in phantom at 28' in FIG. 2. When in this position, it will drop down behind the mattress of the bed. Alternatively, it can be folded completely under rear section 24 of platform 18, and the device can be used in bed as shown in FIG. 1.

Another function for extension 28 is in a wheel chair. When so used, the extension 28 is placed on the seat of the wheel chair and base 12 is inclined downwardly until its end touches the floor. ln this way, the users sitting on the extension 28 will prevent any movement of the device 10. Additionally, when in this position, the user can exercise his leg while sitting in a wheel chair.

The device of this invention can be made of any of the materials known to the art. Where sterile conditions are necessary, as in a hospital, the entire device can be made from stainless steel, thereby permitting it to be steam-cleaned, if necessary. Other materials thatcan be used for the base member and foot support are aluminum or chromium plated steel. The device can also be formed from a moldable plastic.

It is seen from FIG. 1 that thhe device of this invention can be utilized solely for the exercise of a single leg, without the patients having to use any of his other muscles during the exercise of the leg. This same function is accomplishable when the device is used on a wheel chair. In either position, only the leg will have to be moved, and the other parts of the body can remain stationary.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

What is claimed as the invention is:

l. A leg exercise device comprising an elongated planar base, said base having a first end and a second end, guide means for supporting a leg of a user during an exercise program, on said base, said guide means being positioned at a point remote from said first end and extending toward said second end, said guide means being longitudinally extending relative to said base, a foot support longitudinally movable on said base in said guide means, said guide means having a rib means extending the length of said guide means and attached to an upright wall of said guide means for engaging the upper surface of the foot support during the back -andforth movement of the foot support in the guide means, tension spring means for varying the biasing on the support by having one end secured to said foot support and having the other end adjustably secured relative to the base in a plurality of aligned holes in said base, said first end of said base having a hinged support for receiving the buttocks of a user of said leg exercise device, said latter mentioned support forming a continuation of said base whereby a users leg may be exercised by placing his foot on said foot support means and alternately bending and straightening his leg against the tension furnished by said spring means and whereby the weight of the users body holds said leg exercise device in place when the buttocks are placed on said first end during the bending and straightening exercise.

2. The leg exercise device of claim I wherein said base comprises a 7 horizontal platform spaced rearwardly of said guide means for securement of said tension spring means and said hinged support being connected to said platform and adapted to be placed under a users buttocks when a user is sitting in a chair, with said platform being inclined downwardly from a seat of said chair. 

1. A leg exercise device comprising an elongated planar base, said base having a first end and a second end, guide means for supporting a leg of a user during an exercise program, on said base, said guide means being positioned at a point remote from said first end and extending toward said second end, said guide means being longitudinally extending relative to said base, a foot support longitudinally movable on said base in said guide means, said guide means having a rib means extending the length of said guide means and attached to an upright wall of said guide means for engaging the upper surface of the foot support during the back -and- forth movement of the foot support in the guide means, tension spring means for varying the biasing on the support by having one end secured to said foot support and having the other end adjustably secured relative to the base in a plurality of aligned holes in said base, said first end of said base having a hinged support for receiving the buttocks of a user of said leg exercise device, said latter mentioned support forming a continuation of said base whereby a user''s leg may be exercised by placing his foot on said foot support means and alternately bending and straightening his leg against the tension furnished by said spring means and whereby the weight of the user''s body holds said leg exercise device in place when the buttocks are placed on said first end during the bending and straightening exercise.
 2. The leg exercise device of claim 1 wherein said base comprises a horizontal platform spaced rearwardly of said guide means for securement of said tension spring means and said hinged support being connected to said platform and adapted to be placed under a user''s buttocks when a user is sitting in a chair, with said platform being inclined downwardly from a seat of said chair. 